Turkey's Actions May Threaten Peace in Europe, Middle East

Turkey’s policy in Syria and Iraq and its irresponsible use of NATO provisions threatens regional and European peace, the former vice president of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)’s Parliamentary Assembly told Sputnik on Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik), Alexander Mosesov — Turkey, a NATO member state, has made several controversial moves in recent weeks. A Turkish jet downed a Russian frontline bomber over Syria for allegedly trespassing into Turkish airspace. This was the first downing of a Russian warplane by a NATO member since 1952. On December 4, Turkey deployed troops and tanks to Iraq’s Nineveh province without Baghdad’s approval.

"The policy they are pursuing is dangerous not only for regional peace but for European peace," Willy Wimmer said.

Wimmer, who was a state secretary in the German Defense Ministry between 1988 and 1992, said Ankara was "not in a position" to drag NATO into a war, but stressed the military bloc would be better off without Turkey.

"We cannot allow Turkey to make use of NATO facilities to create a disastrous situation for all us, therefore it would be better not to have Turkey in the alliance," he said.

Last week, the Russian Defense Ministry presented satellite images suggesting Turkey was buying smuggled oil from IS militants. Ankara has denied the claim.